Post by Leo on Jan 13, 2024 12:19:02 GMT -5
WCW Monday Nitro episode 51 for 01.15.24
Live from the Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield, California
Commentary: Gorilla Monsoon and Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Gary Michael Cappetta
Interviewer: SoCal Val
Referees: Tommy Young, Joey Marella and Charles Robinson
Magnum TA is in the ring to start the show and recaps the challenge from the last Nitro. He will face anybody Jericho picks and Jericho will face anyone he picks. And Magnum doesn’t want to wait around the back and have Jericho draw it out, so whoever he’s wrestling better get into the ring now.
Chris Jericho comes out and says his pick is a man he’s fought wars in the ring with, but who he has nothing but respect for, unlike Magnum who he has no respect for. Out comes the man Chris Jericho beat for the UWA Universal Men’s Title, WCW U.S. Champion Nick Aldis.
Magnum starts getting sloppy as he tries too hard to get the win as the clock ticks down. He sets up for the belly to belly suplex, while Aldis is still too with it. Aldis breaks with a couple elbows to the head, gets a discus clothesline and finishes with the Treasure Chest for the win at 14:30. Aldis wins.
COMMERCIAL
Madusa Micelli and Molly Holly defeated the All-Sister Squadron (Gigi Dolin and Nikkita Lyons) by pinfall of Micelli on Dolin via bridging German suplex at 7:49. Madusa and Molly keep their Tremendous Tussle spots by the win. Dolin and Lyons argue afterward.
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“Macho Man” Randy Savage is on the interview stage with SoCal Val. “The Macho Man is back and even I admit I could use a little tune-up match before facing Kurt Angle at Saturday Night’s Special, uh-huh, yeah. You know they say the enemy of my enemy is my friend, but the friend of my enemy can be my enemy too, uh-huh, yeah. When it comes to Hulk Hogan, sometimes he’s my friend, sometimes he’s my enemy and sometimes he’s my frenemy, uh-huh, yeah. But, Bret Hart, here’s a little secret between you and me pal, I never liked your Canadian ass, uh-huh, yeah. And there’s more than just you and Hogan running around WCW that knows about the nWo the way it used to be, uh-huh, yeah. So, why don’t you face me in the main event tonight. Dig it.”
COMMERCIAL
Chris Jericho is in the ring and tells Magnum TA to do his worst in naming his opponent for the night. Out comes Black Mamba of the Snake Pit. Commentary mentions how Jericho once feuded with Roberts and ran afoul of Mamba a few times.
“Lionheart” Chris Jericho defeated Black Mamba (Omos) by disqualification at 8:11. A lionsault hits knees. Mamba goes for the chokeslam, but Jericho elbows out, gets a basement dropkick to the knees and nails the Lionsault. However, Magnum breaks up the pin, because he doesn’t want Jericho to earn the legit win. The Snake Pit does a beat down afterward, but Brian Pillman comes out and runs them off with a chair. Viper Pillman stares down at his father and dares him to smack him with the chair. Pillman refuses and Viper smiles slyly and then rolls out of the ring.
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Bret Hart is on the interview stage with SoCal Val. “Randy Savage comes out here and challenges me to a match out of the blue. What he’s calling a tune-up match for Kurt Angle. I know Savage was out for a dislocated elbow, but he might have a dislocated brain too. You don’t challenge the Hitman because you’ve got time on your hands and nothing to do. You challenge me if you want to prove you’re the best there ever was, the best there is and the best there ever will be. Nobody’s taken that claim from me yet and Randy Savage isn’t going to do it tonight.”
COMMERCIAL
A promo for the Tremendous Tussle gives the remaining entries for the men’s Tussle, minus three mystery slots. They are Dr. Tom Prichard, “The Miracle” Mike Bennett, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Viper Pillman, Killer Kross and Brian Pillman.
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Paul Jones’ Army (One Man Gang, Barbarian and Warlord) with “Number One” Paul Jones defeated “The Man with the Hands of Stone” Ronnie Garvin and the Rock ‘n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) by pinfall of Gang on Gibson via 747 Splash at 12:50. Everyone brawls afterward to the break.
COMMERCIAL
“The Rocket” Owen Hart defeated “The Ultimate Olympian” Kurt Angle by countout at 12:45. Hart falls out of the Angle Slam and gets a Back Stabber. Hart eats knees on a top rope frog splash. Angle with a scoop slam off the ropes for a two count. He goes for the ankle lock, but Owen rolls through it and flips Angle through the ropes and out of the ring. Angle has had enough, throws his hands up and walks away.
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Steve Austin is live via satellite from his home in Texas drinking a beer and sitting on an ATV. “Dusty Rhodes was given an extra week off for the holidays to spend it with his family. I took an extra week off so I could drink beer and raise hell and I didn’t ask anybody, I just did it. When I want to do something, I do it. And what I want to do next is take back the WCW World Heavyweight Title at the Tremendous Tussle from Dusty Rhodes. I played your game with the bull rope match at Starrcade International and now you’ll play mine with a first blood match. You said last week, you don’t care if you bleed as long as I do. I feel the same, Dusty, but I guaran-damn-tee you will blood first and the most. And that’s the bottom line because Stunning Steve said so.”
COMMERCIAL
Killer Kross defeated Hulk Hogan by pinfall via head and arm suplex at 7:45. Hogan leans into the ropes for the big boot, but Will Hobbs grabs his foot from the floor. Hogan turns around, points at Hobbs and yells at him. This allows Kross to recover and nail Hogan from behind. Hogan recovers after the bell, chases off the heels and poses.
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“Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff are on the interview stage with SoCal Val. They cut a promo on Harlem Heat about how their rivalry isn’t over. While Hennig and Booker T will be in the Tremendous Tussle, Orndorff and Stevie Ray will square off at Saturday Night’s Special 3 the evening before.
COMMERCIAL
Kamille Kaine defeated Tessa Blanchard by pinfall via Spear at 11:43. While brawling on the outside Kaine hit a Snake Eyes on the ring wall and then a body slam on the ring steps. She was aggressive throughout the bout. Kaine has earned a U.S. Women’s Title shot against Taya Valkyrie of the nWo.
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“The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes is on the interview stage with SoCal Val. “Last week I was home with my family and this week Steve Austin is home with his family, which ain’t nothing but a can of beer and a four-wheeler, daddy. Steve Austin thinks he’s playing mind games with the Dream, but I am mind games proof, baby. He thinks making our rematch for the WCW World’s Heavyweight Title a first blood match is getting something over on me. Yes, I know I’m a rassler that bleeds a lot in that ring and that’s because I leave it all in the ring. Austin, the time for games is over. Next week right here on Nitro, you better be here to look me in the eye, because I’ll be here.”
COMMERCIAL
Shane McMahon makes an announcement for next week’s Nitro. The Tremendous Tussle is based on the Royal Rumble from WWE. But WCW has some traditions too and he’s bringing back one for a special edition of Nitro next Monday - Battle Bowl: The Lethal Lottery. All of the entrants in the Tussle, minus a few exceptions, will be put into a hopper and drawn out to make tag teams. Winners of the five tag team matches will face off in a battle royal at the end of the night with the winner getting a shot on Saturday Night’s Special 3 against Nick Aldis for the WCW U.S. Title.
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“Macho Man” Randy Savage defeated Bret “The Hitman” Hart by pinfall via roll up at 14:21. Savage goes up for the elbow smash, but Kurt Angle comes out and distracts him. This allows Hart to recover and get a superplex. He goes to the sharpshooter and while referee Tommy Young is checking on Savage to see if he wants to submit, Owen Hart runs out and does a running drive-by kick from the apron through the ropes to Bret’s head. That breaks the hold and Savage kind of flips Bret over from behind in a sort of crucifix for the victory.
Angle is jawing at Owen on the floor afterward. Savage comes off the top to the outside with a double ax handle to Angle and throws him into the ring stairs. Owens raises Randy’s arm and points at him as we fade out.